Sunday, 09 January 2022 | PNS | Dehradun
The Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation (ICAR-IISWC) organised a field training for 25 progressive farmers of Raipur block of Dehradun under the Farmers First Project’s module of doubling farmers’ income.
Principal scientist (Agricultural Extension) of IISWC, and Principal Investigator of the Farmers’ First Project, Bankey Bihari, welcomed the farmer participants and resource persons. He emphasised that this training would provide an opportunity as a gateway for the farmers to start up rural poultry hatcheries and poultry units in the region.
Principal scientist and OIC (PME Cell) at IISWC, M Muruganandam shared the experiences of poultry and pig farming gained in various research and demo projects that were executed by the IISWC at various regions including the watersheds to which the participants belonged, for livelihoods and food security. He informed that the training was mainly focused on promoting farmer-managed small-scale hatchery units at the village premises as a source of rural enterprises and livelihoods. Farmers were first screened based on their interest besides the potential and chosen enterprising farmers for the capacity building. The chosen farmers were then given orientation on the training modules and their components that involved visits to the poultry hatchery unit and pig breeding center and the various aspects of poultry and piggery farming to be covered.
Senior veterinary officer, State Government Poultry Hatchery at Pashulok in Rishikesh, Dr Manoj K Tiwari explained the process of egg collection and hatching of improved poultry breeds through live demos and interactive discussion. He highlighted prevailing poultry diseases and health problems and managerial strategies and solutions including periodic vaccinations and deworming for successful poultry farming. Livestock extension officer of the poultry hatchery, Anand Singh Bagri exposed the farmer trainees to the facilities and installations of the hatchery.
The training programme exposed the farmer participants to various concepts and management techniques of rural poultry hatchery, poultry farming, pig breeding, rearing, and fattening. Live interaction and discussion in the hatchery and breeding centre helped farmers gain knowledge on the methodical procedures, utensils like feeders, drinkers, egg-holding trays, etc., and equipment requirements especially for brooding and hatching eggs. Features of improved breeds including Kroiler, Kadaknath, Vanaraja, and Desi poultry birds and Large York Whiteshire pig breed and precautions needed while farming were also discussed. Farmers understood the critical inputs and schedules of farming practices that need to be borne in mind and planned for poultry breeding and farming.
